Pontiac, Fairbury approve electrical aggregation measures

Wednesday

Apr 10, 2013 at 11:52 AMApr 10, 2013 at 11:54 AM

Lois Westermeyer

Pontiac residents who chose to participate in the city’s electrical aggregation program could see lower electricity bills beginning in June following approval of the program Tuesday.Voters in Pontiac approved allowing the city to create an aggregation program, whereby electricity can be purchased in greater quantities for a lower price, as did voters in Fairbury. Streator voters turned away the measure for their community.In Pontiac, 875 ballots were cast in favor of aggregation for 62.3 percent, while 529 ballots were cast against the measure, for 37.68 percent. In Fairbury, the vote was closer, with 541 votes in favor for 54.1 percent and 458 against for 45.8 percent. In Streator, the measure failed with 3,553 no votes and 3,045 yes votes.“I’m glad this passed,” said Pontiac Mayor Robert Russell. “I think it’s a pretty smart move on the part of the voters. Really, we put this together in such a way that people couldn’t lose. Those who don’t want to take part can opt out, while those in the program will see some savings.“This is a good thing for our community,” Russell added.Municipal aggregation is the authority that allows Illinois municipalities to pool residential and small commercial electricity accounts to negotiate for lower electricity prices and set perimeters for the chosen supplier.The city has already had a first reading of the governance plan, by which the aggregation program will be administered, and council members could approve it at the next council meeting, Monday, April 15.City Administrator Bob Karls said that a required second public hearing on aggregation would be held prior to that council meeting.“Once the plan of governance is approved, then we will be able to move forward. I think we will be taking bids in early May.”Russell said he hoped that residents and small businesses in the program would see lower electricity supply costs by June.